Resonant clocking using distributed parasitic capacitance

Abstract

A resonant clock distribution scheme that dissipates less power than conventional, buffer-driven clock distribution is described. All clock buffers are removed and the clock energy is resonated between integrated inductors and the parasitic capacitance of the local clock network which form the energy storage elements of an LC VCO. Designed and fabricated in IBM's 0.13μm partially-depleted SOI, measurements show that the resonant clock dissipates 63% less power than a conventional, buffer-driven clock driving the same clock network.